This year again, the Fresher’s and Alumni Ball was the most important autumn event for the students of Széchenyi István University, where more than a thousand students and alumni partied until dawn in the Győr City University Hall. After the swearing-in ceremony and the presentation of the first-year students' badges, György Korda and Klári Balázs, followed by the Suncity Brass, moved the participants, who then rocked to the NECC party's percussive sets until dawn. 

After the Freshers' Week, the biggest (and most attended) student event of the autumn semester is the Freshers' and Alumni Ball, which was organised again this year by the Helix Event Office of Széchenyi István University and its Student Union.

On behalf of the students, Dávid Vályi Nagy, President of the Student Union, welcomed the guests and said that in addition to the Fresher’s Ball, there are many other events for the freshmen, who have now become fully fledged members of the University. Eszter Petra Májer, Head of the Centre for Alumni and Wellbeing of Széchenyi István University, then welcomed the guests, emphasising that after graduation the doors of the institution are open to former students, whether it is a class reunion, a professional event or even an informal discussion, which this ball is also an excellent opportunity for.

The event started with an opening dance by the first-year students, followed by a toast by Viktória Varga, Vice-President of the Student Union of the University of Applied Sciences. After that, the presentation of the University logo badges and the traditional freshmen's dinner followed, with which the freshmen were symbolically welcomed as fully fledged members of the University by the community of SZE.

 

 

 

Dávid Vályi Nagy (first picture), Eszter Petra Májer and Viktória Varga greeted the guests (Photos: András Adorján, Máté Dudás)

 

 

 

After the presentation of the badges, the freshmen symbolically became fully fledged members University with a toast (Photos: András Adorján, Máté Dudás)

“A new feature compared to previous events was that we also sold tickets for the event with promoters on a trial basis. The test proved to be a success, so we are planning to do something similar for next spring's SZEN," said Virág Cs. Tóth, one of the main organizers of the event, who coordinated the preparations for the decoration, dance, script and many other details as a member of the Helix Event Management Office, and also helped with the event on site. "Last year, I was a first-time attendee myself, and I met my boyfriend through the opening dance, so the event really grew on me. That's why I'm delighted that more than a thousand people, students and alumni alike, bought tickets for the evening. This shows the true strength of the Széchenyi community," she added.

High attendance at this year's Freshmen and Seniors Ball (Photo: András Adorján)

"It's once in a lifetime that I get to go to a fresher’s ball with hundreds of my fellow freshmen. I think that's what attracted everyone here," said Fanni Czigány, a first-year law student from Vonyarcvashegy, who came from near the Lake Balaton and participated in the opening dance and also competed as prom queen. "There are few similar events where you can have fun in such a high quality environment. It is an unmissable experience," she added.

Attila Balics from Sopron, after graduating as a software developer and tester and system administrator, decided to continue his studies in the University's Computer Science programme, which started last year. For him, Freshers' Ball is a compulsory event. "A lot of my new friends came, I just had to be here. I've worked as a waiter at smaller balls and proms, but something like that is only at a university. It's much needed because it brings the community together," he said.

This year's Fresher’s Ball king and queen with their courtiers and ladies-in-waiting (Photo: András Adorján)

It is no coincidence that the term alumni is used in the name of the event, as every year many alumni return to their alma mater. It's no exaggeration to say that, alongside Freshers' Week and University Days, the Alumni Ball is a fixed meeting point for the alumni community year after year.

"I'm in a special position because I used to be the main organiser of the ball, so I have a natural connection to the event and I never miss it," told us Erik Óhidi-Légmán, who graduated as a transportation engineer from Széchenyi István University and currently works for the Centre for Budapest Transport. "Nostalgia is key, because people who once had a good time at the ball want to have the same experience again. For me, it's always a good feeling to return to the University, because I bump into so many old friends. And it would be foolish to miss the NECC party anyway," he said.

 

 

 

The opening dance of the freshmen enchanted the audience (Photos: András Adorján, Máté Dudás)

The main performers of the evening were György Korda and Klári Balázs, who were received with great enthusiasm by the audience. "If someone had told me at the beginning of my career that I would be performing at a university freshman ball in 50 years, I would have laughed. Yet here I am, thanks to all of you," said the 85-year-old star, before performing the most upbeat songs from his repertoire, which was greeted with a rousing reception.

After the announcement of the results of the King and Queen of the Fresher’s Ball, the Suncity Brass rocked the stage. There wasn't much time to rest, as the ever-popular NECC Party DJ duo provided the entertainment. And it didn't fail to be a raucous success, with the crowd barely leaving the dancefloor before dawn. Some were brought to the Győr City University Hall by the community, some by nostalgia, some by the atmosphere, but one thing is for sure: it was a memorable evening.

 

 

 

The performance of György Korda and Klári Balázs filled the dance hall (Photos: András Adorján, Máté Dudás)

 

 

 

This was the third time this year that the Suncity Brass performed at Széchenyi István University (Photos: András Adorján, Máté Dudás)

 

 

 

The always excellent NECC Party entertained until dawn (Photos: Máté Dudás)

 

 

 

Gallery of the event (Photos: András Adorján, Máté Dudás)